Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency with steatorrhea is a major consequence of pancreatic diseases (eg, chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, severe acute necrotizing pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer), extrapancreatic diseases such as celiac disease and Crohn's disease, and gastrointestinal and pancreatic surgical resection. Recognition of this entity is highly relevant to avoid malnutrition-rela...

Introduction Acute pancreatitis is an acute inflammatory process of the pancreas. It is usually associated with severe acute upper abdominal pain and elevated blood levels of pancreatic enzymes.1 Serum amylase and lipase are common tests obtained as biochemical markers for acute pancreatitis. Pancreatitis, however, is not the sole cause of elevated pancreatic enzymes. Non-pancreatic causes of h...

Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency with steatorrhea is a major consequence of pancreatic diseases (e.g. chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, severe acute necrotizing pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer), extrapancreatic diseases like celiac disease and Crohn's disease, and gastrointestinal and pancreatic surgical resections. Recognition of this entity is highly relevant to avoid malnutrition-relat...

Accepted 29 March 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.0 INTRODUCTION Optimal digestion and absorption of nutrients requires a complex interaction among motor and secretory functions of the gastrointestinal tract. Digestion of macronutrients is a prerequisite for absorption and occurs mostly via enzymatic hydrolysis. In this context, pancreatic enzymes, in particular lipase, amy...

Pancreatic insufficiency is a major consequence of pancreatic diseases leading to a loss of pancreatic parenchyma, obstruction of the main pancreatic duct, decreased pancreatic stimulation, or acid-mediated inactivation of pancreatic enzymes. In addition, gastrointestinal and pancreatic surgical resections are frequent causes. Clinical manifestations include abdominal cramps, steatorrhea and ma...

The ontogenesis and specific activities of pancreatic (trypsin, chymotrypsin, amylase and lipase) and intestinal enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, aminopeptidase N) were investigated in Kutum (Rutilus frisii Kutum) from the onset of exogenous feeding (3 day after hatching, DAH) to the juvenile stage at 50 DAH. Trypsin- and chymotrypsin-specific activity showed similar patterns and increased with l...

This seminar text reviews various forms of enzyme supplementation used clinically in digestive and absorption disorders. Enzyme supplementation plays an integral role in the management of various digestive disorders, particularly with regard to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. However, application of enzymes may also be beneficial for other conditions associated with poor digestion including ...

The ontogenesis and specific activities of pancreatic (trypsin, chymotrypsin, amylase and lipase) and intestinal enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, aminopeptidase N) were investigated in Kutum (Rutilus frisii Kutum) from the onset of exogenous feeding (3 day after hatching, DAH) to the juvenile stage at 50 DAH. Trypsin- and chymotrypsin-specific activity showed similar patterns and increased with l...

Benign pancreatic hyperenzymemia is a newly identified syndrome characterized by an abnormal increase in serum pancreatic enzymes in the absence of pancreatic disease. The hyperenzymemia can occur sporadically or in a familial form, and all of the pancreatic enzymes show elevations. Although the condition is persistent, the enzyme elevations fluctuate considerably, even temporarily returning to...

An increase in the serum concentration of pancreatic enzymes (amylase and lipase) is commonly an expression of inflammatory or neoplastic pancreatic disease. However, an elevation of pancreatic enzymes, generally mild, may be a non-specific phenomenon without any clinical implication. The large spreading of the serum pancreatic enzymes dosage in clinical practice, particularly in emergency room...